Senator Boxer Pledges to Protect Funding to Shore Up Folsom Dam

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer is pledging to override any potential veto of a bill that funds flood control projects in the Sacramento area. Work is underway to shore up Folsom dam, that provides water around the state. From Sacramento, Jenny O'Mara reports.

Senator Barbara Boxer visited Folsom Dam. That's where work is underway to build a new bridge to re-route traffic and create a new spillway to prevent water from flowing over the dam.

Boxer says the work must continue, as another flood could cripple the Sacramento-area economy and beyond.

Boxer
: We know what it would mean to the government of the state of California. It would cause up to fifteen billion in direct damages, thirty billion in economic losses and we cannot let that happen.

Folsom Dam provides drinking water to the Silicon Valley area and irrigation water to the Central Valley. The federal bill authorizing more than $600 million for the projects has been approved in the House. It heads next to the Senate.

However Boxer says the President's support is not guaranteed -- she says if he vetoes the measure there could be enough votes to overturn it.

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